Hurricane Rita Freeper CHECK IN THREAD

www.freerepublic.com | September 24, 2005

[Howlin]

Okay, now that the worst of the storm is over, it's time to start counting heads. If you were in the path of the storm, please check in on this thread.

And yes, we'd LOVE to hear your experiences!!!

[Howlin]

onyx and I made a list - sort of -- by keeping up with those of you who signed in.

This list is the ones we saw, not necessarily everybody; if any of you know some who didn't check in and haven't been heard from, please advise myself, onyx, or McGavin999, who has graciously agreed to help with our search for you all!

30 something american; AggieMama; Alkhin; Alexis the Bengal Kitty; American72; AndyMeyers; antivenom; anymouse; Arrowhead1952; austinTparty; BellStar; BlueAngel; BnBlFlag; bonfire; buickmackane; CajunConservative; Carlo3b; Carlucci; Chasaway; chesty_puller; Chong; CindyDawg; CnTXBobcat; COEXERJ145; DallasMike; dandelion; daybreakcoming; demkicker; deport; Diddle E. Squat; Disgusted in Texas; ditter; Dog Gone; drew'smom; Eaker; eastforker; Elderberry; el gato; ElephantinTexas; encm(ss); fatima; fhlh; fowb; freeperfromnj; Flyer; gab1279; GOP_THUG_MOM; gulf1609; gumboyaya; half-cajun; Helen; hispanarepublicana; hobson; hocndoc; Howlin; houstoncurmudgeon; humblegunner; hummingbird; Humidston; i_dont_chat; Indiana Jones; InfraRed; Iwo Jima; Jaded; john316; johnb838; JohnD9207; jpsb; JFC; Jrabbit; Just A Reader; kassie; Kate of Spice Island; katiebelle; Kingwood Kiddo; kingu; KingKongCobra; Leapfrog; Lemondropkid31; Liberal Classic; lonestar; LongElegantLegs; L,TOWM; Mac94; MEG33; MeneMeneTekelUpharsin; miztiki; mlbford2; monkfan; Motherbear; msmagoo54; nepdap; nsidetrk; N8VTXNinWV; Nita Nupress; OC_Steve; OffMyMeds; omegabea; onyx; padfoot_lover; Paleo Conservative; pbrown; PetroniDE; proud_2_B_texasgal; PurVirgo; RedWhiteBlue; Rheo; RichardW; Richard Kimball; Rightfootforward; RikaStrom; RonH; RoseyT; Ryan Spock; Sally'sConcerns; sam_paine; Sans-Culotte; SaveTheChief; seeker41; servantboy777; shield; sinkspur; Sooner Gal; stopem; TexAgg_IE; tex_gop_cruz; texsean; TexasCowboy; texasforever; texianyankee; Texas Mom; Texas Songwriter; tje; TXDeb; txroadhawg; TheMom; The South Texan; truthandlife; turtleman; TWfromTEXAS; TxBec; TX Bluebonnet; TXBSAFH; Txsleuth; webfooter; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA; Willie Green; WinOne4TheGipper; wolfhound89; Xenalyte; YCTHouston; Zacs Mom; Zechariah_8_13;

[Howlin]

Here you go!

[netmilsmom]

Well, glad to see you checking in!
Bumping with prayers for all.

[McGavin999]

Oh good! Thanks for posting this Howlin.

[Howlin]

Okay, folks, check in here with your storm stories!

[McGavin999]

Can you post your story here? There were a lot of folks worried about you since you were right in the path of the storm.

[texianyankee]

Present & accounted for here in College Station!

Barely got wet here - nice breeze & dark clouds currently.

[Day Kay]

Well, I didn't make the list....but here's my report anyways! I'm in Bryan-College Station, which is about 90 miles northwest of Houston. Our town has received about 10,000 evacuees from various places. We were initially right in the projected path of the eye of the storm, but when it made it's little eastward jog Thursday night, that meant we were now west of all the hot spots.

So, this morning, Saturday, at 9:30 a.m., we have winds gusting up to about 40 mph, and lots of clouds. No rain at all yet. The eye of the storm is about 170 miles directly east of us at the moment (in Jasper).

The best to come out of this - we picked up ALLL the junk out of the yard and had to clean up the shed to put it away! The kids are still sleeping, and will probably be slightly disappointed that we still have power.... :-)

[nepdap]

We've had a great time with old friends in Austin. Went to the Capitol and the Bullock History Museum (MARVELOUS museum) Friday, and everywhere we went were other bored evacuees. Thought about bucking the crowds to attend the Austin City Limits music festival, but decided to visit some other friends and ride horses instead. Kids don't want to leave.

Report is that Missouri City is fine. Power blinked a few times, but I left our porch light on so neighbors could check quickly, and everything's on now.

BUT NOW -- we have to figure out when/how to come back. Our current best thought is to take 71 down to Eagle Lake and then 90 back home. Any ideas?

[hispanarepublicana]

10,000!?! WHERE are y'all putting them? I'm in Lubbock, and we've only got public "shelter" spots for around 2,000! (Not counting the self-evacuees who came up to our hotels and residences) Of course, we have 8,000 hotel rooms, but some of those this weekend are occupied by college football.

[texianyankee]

I woke up at 3:00 AM and looked outside. Our sidewalk & the pavement was wet from a light shower.
But when I looked back outside at 8 this morning, its all dry.

Whatever raindrops we got, it isnt enough to settle the dust.

[McGavin999]

10,000? Where on earth did you put them all?

[texianyankee]

I doubt 10,000 evacuees, also. However, there were a lot of people from the Houston area that came up to stay with the college kids in their apts and they didnt stay in the shelters.

[texsean]

Couldn't be better in West Houston. Didn't lose anything (water, power, cable, etc.) Just a little wind and rain. Pretty uneventful. Thank the Lord, but I still pray for those in the storm's path and those who will be returning home as well.

[Flyer]

My storm story?

I stayed up all night, full of coffee. My winds probably peaked at 60 mph. Just small tree debris everywhere outside.

My electricity has blipped off 3 times, about 10 seconds each.

Now I'm pooped and I'm gonna have a Bloody Bubba, make breakfast on the grill and get some sleep.

Prayers out to those to the east that got the worst of it.

Bloody Bubba

Beer
Worcestershire
Tabasco
Lemon pepper
V-8

Mix it all up and drink.

[tje]

I just heard a bird singing outside. Not really all that much rain here (SH 249/Louetta area).. Few small limbs off trees...

But my wife slept all through the night. Power has glitched a few times.. but nothing series here at all..

Hope everyone else did as well.. This was a good excersize and I'll be shopping for a generator.. I'm not going to get stuck without one again..

Thanks for creating this thread...

[Carlucci]

All is well here in the Cypress Area (Fairfield). We hardly got any rain, but got strong (not damaging) winds. I still have electricity at my house.

A friend who lives a few minutes inbound at Coles Crossing (Barker Cypress @ 290), is without power.

Thanks to all for the hard work on these these threads.

If any of you in my vicinity are without power and need ice or anything later, let me know and I'll do all I can to help.

Carlos.

[luckystarmom]

Thanks on the update on B/CS. It sounds like my niece got lucky. Now, I need to hear about relatives in the Woodville area.

[RikaStrom]

Morning Howlin,

Checking in from the I-45 and West Road area. About 4:30 we had serious wind gusts and I got really worried about then. The power blinked a couple of times, but seems to be just fine, of course I have an HL&P service area directly behind my neighborhood, so that helps. :-)

We're still having some serious gusts of wind and light rain at the moment. I sure hope this thing doesn't stall!

[Nita Nupress]

Can someone assure me that Rita is not turning around and coming back this way right now? My brother is taking off the boards from the windows. I don't have the battery power to sit here and search for current news.. I'm trying to let relatives know we're okay via email.

Thank you very much to whoever answers.